Port of LA imports fell nearly 20% in May, and it may mean higher prices and fewer choices on back-to-school and Halloween items

• With the climax of the trade season, Import sizes in the Los Angeles port decreased by 19 % in May compared to April and 9 % from last year as a result of president Donald Trump’s definitions. The CEO of Los Angeles port warns that fewer shipments may mean high prices over a number of goods available, and start shopping to school and influence even on winter holiday products.

The sharp tariff continued to reduce the volume of US imports, and consumers have not yet seen their effects, according to new data from the Los Angeles port and Yale’s budget laboratory.

Import volumes via the Los Angeles port, the country’s latest mall, decreased by 19 % in May compared to the previous month and 9 % from last year as a result of President Donald Trump’s policy.

The CEO of Port of Los Angeles Jin Seroka told reporters on Friday that the highest prices are the result of definitions, most likely, less and more expensive for commodities for consumers at the end of the year.

He said, “Buying products outside China at the present time still costs more than once and a half more than they were earlier this year, which makes products of all species very expensive and create a decision platform for companies that will not necessarily be in our best interest because consumers will witness less stocks, less choices on store shelves, and higher prices in some cases.”

The imports of import came last month despite Trump, some of the highest tariff rates declined.

In April, taxes were imposed on many goods that leave China to the United States by 145 % before the trade deal in May reduced 115 %. But economists said that even the re -liberation day levels are still high enough to survey trade between the United States and China.

The summer coincides with the beginning of the Peak Trade season, which is the bustle of shipping activity in preparation for the main shopping events later in the year. But as shipping periods approached school and Halloween, Siroka said that the port is “very slow”, and warned of fewer goods and higher prices not only autumn, but winter as well.

He said: “These goods must be for these small seasons here on the ground now.” “I don’t necessarily see this in stock levels.”

He added: “Retail dealers do not tell me that they are strengthening inventory levels to obtain wide choices for products that start with Thanksgiving Week and continue until the end of the year.”

Empty shelves, higher prices

Besides consumers who face empty shelves in stores, they will feel the impact of tariffs on their wallets. Prices jumped on elements such as shoes by 31 % in the short term as a result of 2025 tariffs, according to June data from the Yale Budget Lab. The prices of clothing increased by 28 % for consumers in the short term.

For consumers, the most expensive goods mean 1.5 % in price levels that cost the family on average $ 2500 in the available income, according to data. Although most consumers will see more severe prices, low -income shoppers will feel the largest extension: consumers at the bottom end of the income scale will witness an increase of 2.5 % at price levels.

Erney Tedishi, director of the economy at the Budget Laboratory at Yale University, argued that the uncertainty surrounding the definitions, not only high prices, contributed to the consumer decline.

“Consumers and companies who do not know the customs tariff policy that will be at the end of this press conference – let it alone a week, for a month, an hour from now on -[are] “They are sitting at their hands and not making all investment and employment decisions in the long run they can make if they have certainty about politics,” he told reporters.

With shoppers racing to apply for customs tariffs, spending on consumers increased in March, and spending in the first quarter increased on durable goods by 2.3 % from the previous year to $ 2.2 trillion.

“It is very clear that the main thing that leads this shift in overcoming is the expectation of definitions,” Tedishi said. In April, when the definitions increased, spending slowed.

If the definitions are stopped, the price increases are likely to increase as a result of companies that adapt to and adapt alternatives to their supply chains. Yale Budget Lab calculated a 15 % increase in clothing prices and a 10 % increase in long -term fabric prices, for example.

“Even after the economy, consumers and companies have an opportunity to respond,” this will not be able to reduce all the price increase. “

This story was originally shown on Fortune.com

2025-06-16 17:59:00